I think. I repeat, I think, that Gordon Hayward is actually a Boston Celtic now. I mean, the dude did pen a god damn 2,000 word goodbye opus for The Players Tribune. So, if it’s not true now, then I don’t know what to tell you.
It’s the fourth of July and I’ve been jumping from bar to bar since noon. All the while, watching the TVs out of the corner of my eye. Watching and waiting for the Hayward announcement.
From what we’re hearing, he’s agreed to a $128 million, four-year deal with a player option in the final year.
Around 2 p.m. when I was on city island and sipping on a refreshing Sunshine Pils, it seemed like the deal was done. Speaking of which, hey Troegs, I think we’d be perfect advertising sponsors. Just saying.
Then the tweets started falling. A bunch of Twitter bottom dwellers tried to get their likes and retweets up by “breaking the news” that the deal was done. But, we only trust one source…
Gordon Hayward’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, tells ESPN: “Gordon hasn’t made a decision yet. We are still working through it.”
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 4, 2017
After seeing that tweet, in a completely unrelated incident, shots of Jameson started flowing. I’m not gonna lie, it’s America’s birthday, so I cared about Gordon Hayward less and less. Shortly after the biggest Jameson shot of my life, I realized I’m 31 and not 22 anymore and that I have work tomorrow. So, my wife drove me home and I took a 4 hour nap.
Then, I woke up to this self aggrandizing bullshit. Enjoy. Gordon Hayward is a Celtic.
Thank You, Utah. https://t.co/ICfocNeZfW
— Gordon Hayward (@gordonhayward) July 4, 2017
ESPN: The 27-year-old Hayward stressed in the 2,000-word article that his comfort and familiarity with his former college coach, Brad Stevens, was a deciding factor in his joining the Celtics. Stevens took over for the Celtics before the 2013-14 season and last season led Boston to 53 wins, the top seed in the Eastern Conference and a conference finals matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In his second and final year at Butler, Hayward led the Bulldogs to the national championship game, which Butler lost as Hayward’s buzzer-beating 3-point attempt failed to go in.
“And that unfinished business [Stevens and Hayward] had together, back in 2010, when I left Butler for the NBA,” Hayward wrote, “… as far as I’m concerned, all of these years later, we still have it.
“And that’s to win a championship.”
Thanks for highjacking our 4th of July, Gordon Hayward.
Image courtesy of Sporting News.